Portable frame for tents.



A.B.UPTON,

' PORTABLE FRAME FOR TENTS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13, $915. 1 204 616. Patented Nov. 14,1916. 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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. A. B. UPTON.

PQRTABLE FRAME FOR TENTS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13. 1915.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

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ALBERT IB. UPTON, 0F HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN.

PORTABLE FRAME Eon TENTS.

Specification of Letters 'Iatent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

Application filed. September 13, 1915. Serial No. 50,321.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT B. UProN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Highland Park, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Frames for'Tents, &c., of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a frame that is adaptable for use as a merry-go-round, a clothes reel, a frame for a portable house or for a tent, and to disposition of parts that makes dismounting of the device for ship ping extremely easy, lightens and stiffens the construction and minimizes the holding members.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in per spective of a frame that embodies features of the invention arranged for a merry-goround: Fig. 2 is a view of a slight modification of the frame whereby it becomes available as a tent; Fig. 3 isa view in perspective of the modification with an applied covering; Fig. 4; is a view in detail of the con nection of a center post and the arm braces thereof, and Fig. 5 is a view in detail of a pivot joint. I

Referring to the drawings, a center post 1 that is cylindrical and preferably made of tubing, is in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 7, provided with a telescoping rotatable upper section A flanged bearing head 3 that is inserted in the stationary section of the post bears against the under slightly dished m'recessed face of a bearing block 4: that is prevented from upward movement in the section 2 by the inner end portions of brace bolts 5. The slotted heads 6 of the latter receive arms 7 of strap iron or the like, with pivot bolts 8 securing each in place.

The upper end of the center post has a plurality of longitudinal slots 9 indicated plainly in Fig. 4, corresponding in section and alinement to the holding bolts 5. A V shaped brace for each arm, such as indicated at 10, has the upper end portion pinched together or compressed as indicated at 11, to drop into the companion slot 9 While its outer end is slotted or bifurcated and is maintained in position on the arm which it embraces by a suitable pivot pin 12. A cap the arms 7 are connected by the bolts or devices in suspension from the frame.

18 may be used'to cover and act as a collar around the slotted end portion of the post. A flexible connection or stay member 14 passes through suitable "perforations in the 0 outer end portion of the arm 7. which are preferably provided with a series of such apertures.

In assembling the parts, after shipment,

cross pins 8 to the holding bolts 5 and the braces 10 are dropped into position and pinned to the arms 7 by the cross pin 12. The flexible connection or stay member 14 has previously been passed through the apertures and when the arms are extended the adjustment is such that there is strain put upon the flexible connection which thereby cooperates with'the braces 10 to hold the parts in rigid extended position.

As a result a frame is obtained that is adaptable for use as a merry-go-round, as a clothes reel or a portable house or tent, the rigidity of the structure permitting the use of hanging bunks or the placing of other As it is extremely easy to ship, when collapsed, it is found to be of particular advantage for contractors, harvesters orthe like to furnish temporary quarters for their crews.

Obviously, changes in the details of construction may be made without departin from the spirit of the invention but I do not care to limit myself to any particular form or arrangement of parts.

What I claim is 1. A frame comprising a cylindrical hollow center post with longitudinal slots extending downwardly from the upper end thereof, holding bolts extending radially from the post below and in alinement each with a slotand having slotted heads, arms each pivoted at the inner end in the slotted head of a holding bolt, and flanged braces embracing the arms near the outer ends thereof and interlocking near their inner ends each with a slot of the, post.

2. A frame comprising a cylindrical center post the upper section of which has longitudinal. slots extending downwardly from the upper end, brace bolts extending radially from the post each in line with a slot, and having a slotted head, arms pivotally secured at the inner ends in the slotted heads of the bolts, flanged brace members having compressed portions near their upper ends that are adapted to drop into and interlock each other and cooperating with the braces to hold the same in extended position.

'3. A frame coinprlslng a tubular center post, the upper section of which has a longitudinally-slotted upper end portion and'a lower portion in telescopic engagement over the lower section of the post, a flanged bearing head seated in and on the lower section,

a bearing block in the upper section resting on the bearing head, laterally extending brace bolts in the upper section against the inner portions of which the block bears upwardly, arms extending radially from the brace bolts, and braces pivoted to the arms and interlocking each with a slot of the upper section of the post;

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

V ALBERT B. UPTON. lVitnesses:

ANNA M. Donn, CHAS. W. STAUFFIGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. i 

